Chia seeds vs. salba seeds – which is better for you? First of all, this whole chia seeds vs. salba seeds debate has been going on longer than I care to remember. So, the question is: When it comes to chia vs. salba controversy, who is right and who is wrong? Unfortunately, there is no straight answer.
And here is another question: Do you need these seeds to lose weight in one month? Can you lose 20 pounds in 1 month by simply including chia or salba seeds in your diet? The answer is no. Despite what you might have heard, chia seeds do not aid weight loss, not directly anyway.
Personally, I think this whole chia seeds vs. salba seeds thingy has gotten pretty silly and counterproductive. Here is how I see it: Both types of seeds are good for you. According to some claims, salba contains more nutrients than chia. Specifically, it seems to be higher in antioxidants, omega-3s and certain minerals, but who cares?
Some people obviously do care, I do not. Why not? Because if you are after omega-3s, pharmaceutical grade fish oil blows chia or salba seeds out of the water. Antioxidants are overrated and can be easily obtained from other sources such as berries. Minerals? If you follow a balanced diet, you are getting more than enough minerals and vitamins from vegetables, fruit and meat.
So, an obvious question seems to be this: Why do you even need chia or salba seeds? Because they contain a lot of fiber. Studies show that fiber is an important component of a healthy diet that may improve not only your overall health, but also your body composition. Chia and salba seeds, mainly due to their fiber content, are hydrophilic. What does it mean? It means that they are very good at absorbing water, and when they do so, they form a viscous gel-like substance, which increases satiety.
Some studies seem to suggest that chia and salba seeds can lower “bad” (LDL) cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar. While it is not a good idea to cook these seeds due to their high omega-3 content, they can be easily added to a protein shake, cottage cheese, yogurt, or your favorite salad.